Innelo 1 Review with Pros and Cons

Chinese smartphone maker iVoomi has launched a new sub-brand Innelo, with the first phone in this series labeled as Innelo 1. The sub-brand was conceptualized mainly to counter other low budget smartphones like Honor 7S, Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A. The entry-level division has a fairly large market share in India, and this launch could mean a good opportunity for iVoomi to re-establish itself in the country. (Innelo 1 Review हिंदी में पढ़िए)

A premium and sleek design (with notch), Dual SIM-Dual VoLTE, Android 8.1 Oreo, and a large display are some of the features to look forward to on Innelo’s first smartphone.

We spent a couple of days with Innelo 1 and here is what we think about the iVoomi’s latest launch.

Innelo 1 Review: Specifications

What’s in the box:

• Innelo 1 handset
• 5 Volt Charger
• A MicroUSB cable
• A MicroUSB type earphone
• One screen Guard
• A user manual
• A warranty card
• One SIM ejector pin

Innelo 1 Review: Design and Display

Innelo 1 smartphone comes in four color options – Midnight Black, Platinum Gold, Pacific Blue, and Persian Red. We got a chance to operate the Midnight Black variant and the device looks sleek for a low budget smartphone, but the build quality isn’t much to write home about.

It is a light-weight handset with plastic uni-body build and a glossy back. The camera module on the rear is conspicuously large and raised, thus making it difficult to place the phone evenly on plain surfaces. The camera could easily sustain scratches with that design and bring down the overall look of the phone. The rear panel also carries a dedicated fingerprint sensor and the case is non-removable in nature.

The Innelo 1 sports a 5.86-inch HD+ display with 1520x720p resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio. The trend for notch display on low budget phones is still in its initial stages, and beside Realme 2 and Redmi 6 Pro, Innelo 1 is the third smartphone till date that has managed to bring the notch based display to low budget phones. The notch isn’t well justified, though. Which is to say there are ample bezels surrounding the screen, and a jarring chin too.

The volume rocker is present on the left edge while the power button is placed on the right edge. The speaker outlet is present on the lower edge of the phone, on the left side of the USB port.

The Innelo 1 does not have an audio jack and comes bundled with earphone with micro USB (Type-A) connector. Unfortunately, a separate MicroUSB to 3.5mm audio jack connector isn’t present in the box either.

Innelo 1 Review: Performance and Software

• MTK 6737H 1.3GHz Quad Core Processor
• Mali-T720 GPU
• 2GB RAM + 16GB internal storage, expandable up to 128GB (microSD)
• Android 8.1 Oreo, SmartMe OS 3.0
• Dual SIM, Dual VoLTE

Innelo 1 employs a weak chipset – the 1.3GHz quad-core MTK 6737H. When compared to its chief rivals, Redmi 6, and Honor 7S, the phone could have done better on this front.

Single memory variant in the combination of 2GB RAM + 16GB internal storage assists the chipset, which is another minus point, given that many phones in this price category have managed to employ 3GB RAM.

The phone struggles when multitasking, and heats up quickly under heavy load. Although, with light usage activities like browsing and messaging, the phone did not show any performance issue.

The earphones being distributed in its retail box are of cheap quality and the same can be said about the resulting audio experience.

The smartphone runs Android 8.1 Oreo with SmartMe OS 3.0 atop. The skin here is another defeating factor, given that its heavy and has several pre-installed apps. There are a few system apps that you wish, you could get rid of. Also, the UI transitions aren’t very smooth.

The phone supports 4G Volte for both the SIMs. We didn’t face any issue with call quality in our area.

Innelo 1 Review: Camera and Battery

• 13MP rear camera
• 5MP front camera
• 3000mAh battery

Innelo 1 features 13MP of rear camera with 5P lens, Samsung Sensor, Soft Flash. Photography is average with grainy pictures from the rear camera, even on small screens. When viewed on a bigger screen, the images further crack open. For both the front and rear cameras, the outcomes are not defined and colors are not punchy. This was expected of a low budget phone.

The camera app launches quickly and comprises beauty mode, HDR, portrait mode, and faceCute mode for the front as well as the rear camera. A soft flashlight is present below the rear camera. The front 5MP camera isn’t assisted by an LED flash and the quality is again fairly standard.

Overall, the phone performs average from the camera standpoint, but, same is the case with other phones in this segment.

A 3000 mAh lithium-polymer battery unit that is non-removable in nature, is housed within Innelo 1. The battery should last for a day of moderate usage, but not more. Innelo 1 battery charging time is a little more than 2 hours.

Innelo 1 Review: Should you buy it?

iVoomi’s sub-brand innelo has made a weak debut in the budget segment, which is currently dominated by ruthless Xiaomi Redmi alternatives. iVoomi, itself offers smartphones with better features at this price point. Besides, removing audio jack on a phone meant for mass markets makes no sense.

Novice smartphone buyers usually have little exposure to the latest technology trends, and rely completely on the word of mouth. In that case, Innelo has a long way to go before it establishes itself as a brand that caters to the entry-level smartphone users.

One thing that works for the phone is its display. If you are particularly fond of notches and are looking for something affordable, the Innelo 1 can be purchased for Rs. 7,500.